Integrated Traffic Management System

ABSTRACT

An integrated traffic management system comprising a parking meter arrangement that monitors traffic violations.

This invention relates to traffic management systems.

A major requirement in times when increasing vehicle numbers are causingtraffic congestion in urban areas is to make best use of road space andensure traffic proceeds in orderly fashion.

Solutions, at best partial, have been ad hoc and piecemeal.

It is now perceived that a comprehensive traffic management system islong overdue, but no satisfactory system has yet been proposed.

The present invention provides at least the basis for a comprehensivesystem that can be augmented to include various options for trafficmanagement and security on city streets.

The invention comprises an integrated traffic management systemcomprising a parking meter arrangement that monitors traffic violations.

The parking meter may be associated with at least one digital camera,which may monitor parking violations. The expiry of an allotted parkingtime may trigger the camera to image a vehicle for identification andassociate the image with data about the violation.

The camera may capture an image of a conventional number plate as thevehicle is driven away after a violation. Or a municipality may issueidentification tabs for display on vehicles that permit parking when inthe camera's view—tabless parking would itself constitute a violation.

At least one camera may be a moving traffic offence detecting camera. Atleast one camera may be a security surveillance camera imaging vehiclesand other property—in this way, a municipal authority can offer themotorist a degree of security for his parked vehicle in furtherconsideration for parking fees.

Said moving traffic offence or security surveillance camera may bepatched through to a monitoring station on a polled basis, and/or may betriggered by detection of a moving traffic or security violation orother event. A camera may, for example, have associated software thatidentifies potentially criminal activity, or there may be a glass-breakdetector.

The parking meter may have communication facility direct to trafficwardens and/or police or other security services, and/or to a centralcontrol arrangement. The meter may also be adapted for communicationwith another parking meter or meters and/or other security surveillancearrangements.

The meter may have a facility to accept credit card payment for parkingand/or penalties and selected meters may collect tolls electronically aspart of a pay-by-use scheme, even if a passing vehicle is not parked.

An example of an integrated traffic management system in accordance withthe invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an integrated trafficmanagement system.

FIG. 1 shows a parking meter 1 that is connected to a central computer 2via a communication link 3. The communication link 3 may be a wiredlink, such as a landline, or a wireless communication link, such as amobile telephone communication link or a satellite communication link.

The parking meter 1 includes a main housing 5 from which extends a post4. On the top of the post 4 is mounted a turret arrangement 6. Mountedon the turret arrangement 6 are sonar detectors 7, digital parkingcameras 8, digital security cameras 9 and digital speed cameras 10. Thesonar detectors 7 monitor the arrival of vehicles at a parking bay andsend signals to a processor 11 within the main housing 5 to registertime of arrival and departure of the vehicle and the time spent by thevehicle in the parking bay. The processor 11 processes all incoming andoutgoing signals and calculates elapsed time and registers time ofarrivals and departures of a vehicle at a parking bay. Other internalelectronics within the housing include transducer instrumentation 12 forreceiving signals from the sonar detectors 7 prior to passing thesignals to the processor 11 and a timer and transducer 13 linked to thedigital parking cameras 8, which receives signals from the parkingcameras 8 before passing them to the processor 11. The timer andtransducer 13 also receives an input from the digital speed cameras 10and then also passes this input to the processor 11.

Images from the digital security cameras 9 are passed directly to thecentral computer 2. The images from the digital security cameras 9 canbe used to identify, for example, stolen cars, identify criminals, suchas pick-pockets or muggers or to identify out of date tax discs. Theimages can be forwarded to police or other security services via radioor any other suitable wireless communication 30, such as a mobile phoneservice. Typically, the communication link between the digital securitycameras 9 and the central computer 2 is via a wireless link 14. Imagesfrom the digital speed cameras 10 are sent via wireless link 15 to thetimer and transducer 13 and to the central computer 2. If the imagesfrom the speed cameras 10 when processed by the central computer 2indicate that a car is driven dangerously or at excessive speed thecomputer 2 sends relevant information by text and/or image to thenearest police vehicle, such as by radio or any other suitable wirelessconnections 16. The detectors 7 and the cameras 8, 9 and 10 can sendoutput signals to the processing electronics within the housing 5 via awired communication link and/or a wireless link. In addition, it is alsopossible that the signals could be sent via a wired or a wireless linkto the central computer 2.

The housing 5 also includes a mechanism to permit a user of a vehicleparking in a parking bay to pay for the parking by including coin and/orbank note receiving mechanisms and a credit card receiving mechanism 17to permit payment by suitable bank cards, such as credit cards or chargecards.

If the processor 11 detects that a vehicle is parked in a parking bayand time paid for or allocated to that vehicle has run out, or nopayment has been made, an image of that vehicle can be processed 18 bythe internal electronics and sent direct to a traffic warden or othersecurity service via a wireless transmitter 19 which establishes awireless communication link 20 with the traffic warden or other securityservice and the processor 11 transmits information relating to thevehicle location and an identification of the vehicle, such as theregistration number. The information may be transmitted in text and/orimage format.

Alternatively, when a parking violation is detected the relevantinformation can be sent 21 directly to central computer 2 viacommunication link 3 and the central computer 2 can then process theviolation and automatically issue a fine to the registered keeper of thevehicle. However, it is possible that the information may only be sentto the central computer 2 if the vehicle leaves the parking bay before atraffic warden arrives.

The turret 6 may be fixed. However, it is also possible that the turret6 may rotate on the post 4 and/or that the post 4 may move up and downto raise and lower the turret 6, as necessary.

1. An integrated traffic management system comprising a parking meterarrangement that monitors traffic violations.
 2. A system according toclaim 1, in which a parking meter is associated with at least onedigital camera.
 3. A system according to claim 2, in which said cameramonitor parking violations.
 4. A system according to claim 3, in whichthe expiry of an allotted parking time triggers the camera to image avehicle for identification and associates the image with data about theviolation.
 5. A system according to claims 1, in which at least onecamera is a moving traffic offence detecting camera.
 6. A systemaccording to claims 5, in which at least one camera is a securitysurveillance camera imaging vehicles and other property.
 7. A systemaccording to claim 5, in which the said camera is patched through to amonitoring station on a polled basis.
 8. A system according to claims 5,in which the said camera is triggered by detection of a moving trafficor security violation.
 9. A system according to claim 8, in which saidcamera is triggered by detection of excessive vehicle speed or trafficlight violation.
 10. A system according to claims 1, in which theparking meter has communication facility direct to traffic wardens,police or other security services.
 11. A system according to of claims1, in which the parking meter has communication facility to a centralcontrol arrangement.
 12. A system according to claims 1, in which theparking meter is adapted for communication with at least one otherparking meter or other security surveillance arrangements.
 13. A systemaccording to claims 1, having facility to accept credit card payment forparking or penalties.
 14. (canceled)
 15. A system according to claim 6,in which the said camera is patched through to a monitoring station on apolled basis.
 16. A system according to claim 6, in which the saidcamera is triggered by detection of a moving traffic or securityviolation.
 17. A system according to claim 16, in which said camera istriggered by detection of excessive vehicle speed or traffic lightviolation.